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Ken Saro Wiwa (1941-1996) - Writer and Activist

Ken Saro Wiwa, born Kenule Benson Tsaro-Wiwa was born at Bori, Rivers State, Nigeria on 10 October 1941. His father, Jim Beesom Wiwa was a businessman and community chief, while his mother, Widy was a farmer. During his lifetime, Saro-Wiwa lived to successfully send five of his own children to private schools in England, one of whom died tragically in a rugby accident in Eton. Living to witness the death of his son was a big blow to Saro Wiwa and unfortunately, his own father, Jim Beeson Wiwa, also lived to witness Saro Wiwa's death in 1996.

He with Chinua Achebe (another note worthy writer) attended Government College Umuahia on scholarship and then University College Ibadan (UCI). After graduation, he returned to Government college in Umuahia to teach. He also taught at Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt and at the University of Lagos (Unilag).

Saro-Wiwa's purely academic pursuits had placed him in the midst of the Biafran War, during which he chose to be on the Nigerian side. During the war he served as the Federal Administrator at Bonny's Oil Depot. Afterwards, he served from 1968-1973 as the Civil Commissioner in the Rivers State Government. His opinions regarding an autonomy for the Ogoni people led to his dismissal in 1973.

Although he had abandoned the academia he never abandoned his love for writing, even while in administration, and he later seized the opportunity to channel out his opinions regarding the disposition of the Ogoni people. Through his writings Saro-Wiwa became increasingly involved in activities, which brought national and international attention to the campaign of the Ogoni people.

His writing had first become noticeable during his schooling, while he was the editor of University College Ibadan's English Department's student magazine "The Horizon" and the president of its dramatic society. He did not emerge as a major writer until his mid-forties. Among his ventures, he successfully started his own publishing company, Saros publishing company, through which he later published many of his literary works.

His Literary Life

In October 1971 he partook in the Second BBC African Service Competition in and the jury, consisting of Martin Esslin, Lewis Nkosi and Wole Soyinka awarded him joint fourth place.

His writings included his radio play, "The Transistor Radio[b]" for which he achieved fame in 1972; several political columns published in the Vanguard Newspaper; the "[b]Similla" column which he wrote for a local Sunday newspaper; "Songs in a Time of War" in 1985; his first novel "Sozaboy: A Novel in Rotten English" which was written in Pidgin English (loosely referred to as Rotten English in the novel) and published in 1985. "Sozaboy" the story of a young man who served as a soldier during the Biafran War was partly based on Saro-Wiwa's own experiences. This was followed by "A Forest of Flowers" in 1986

Published in 1989 were "Adaku and Other Stories" which depicted the condition of women, and this he dedicated to his sisters; and "Mr. B Again." He also wrote and produced over 150 episodes for the humorous television series called "Basi & Company," beginning in 1988 until the series set in Lagos was cancelled by the military dictatorship in 1992. His 1991 collection of essays which he titled "Nigeria, The Brink of Disaster" was dedicated to Amuka-Pemu, the founder of The Punch magazine. He also wrote "Mr. B Is Dead" in 1991.

At the brink of his condemnation of the Oil companies, Shell and British Petroleum for their exploitation of the Ogoni people, "Genocide in Nigeria: The Ogoni Tragedy" was published in 1992 . The third of the "Mr. B" series, "Mr. B's Mattress" was also written in 1992. During his detention after his arrest for the MOSOP movement, and it's radical Youth movement, Saro Wiwa wrote "A Month and a Day: A Detention Diary" which was published in 1995. In 1996 "Lemona's Tale" which examined the role of women in changing society was published posthumously.

Saro Wiwa the Activist

As an activist, Saro-Wiwa founded the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) in 1990. He also founded a more radical youth movement which was reputedly engaged in sabotage against Shell. Both were formed to condemn Shell and British Petroleum for their exploitation of the Ogoni people, the exposure of the people to dangerous chemicals and the destruction of their land in their pursuit of oil in Ogoni land. He also openly condemned the military government in power at that time for corruption.

He used his writing as a tool to voice his opinions and in his literary fight for the people of Ogoni land, while in prison he wrote a letter which was published in a May 1995 issues of the newspapers The Mail and the Guardian. In his letter Saro-Wiwa stated: "Ultimately the fault lies at the door of the British government. It is the British government which supplies arms and credit to the military dictators of Nigeria, knowing full well that all such arms will only be used against innocent, unarmed citizens." In another letter he summarized: "The most important thing for me is that I've used my talents as a writer to enable the Ogoni people to confront their tormentors. I was not able to do it as a politician or a businessman. My writing did it. And it sure makes me feel good! I'm mentally prepared for the worst, but hopeful for the best. I think I have the moral victory."

Although the condemnations brought international attention to the disposition of the Ogoni people, also causing Shell to cease operations in Ogoniland by 1993; it also caused the military government in power at that time to arrest Saro Wiwa and some of his supporters. He and eight of them were eventually slain at Giokoo. The official Shell response to the execution was silence.

Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation

One of his sons, Ken Wiwa became a journalist, who in his determination to keep his father's memory alive, started work to the establishment of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation.

Cxsm
10th Nov. '05

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